Shoe-lace-tipping machine.



PATENTED JULY 26,1903.

S. C. SHEPARD.

SHOE LACE TIPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1903.

V 6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

NO MODEL.

.IDJQQTOP j Cjs iar Wu asses Was-f No. 735,040. PA'].EI T'1ED JULY28,1903. S. G. SHEPARD.

SHOE LACE TIPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1903.

N0 MODEL- 6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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No. 735,040. PATENTED JULY 28, 1903.

' s. 0. SHEPARD.

SHOE LACE TIPPING MACHINE.

- APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1903.

NO MODEL. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Wifgas Q5 v e/qlfonyzys No. 736,040. PATENTED JULY 28, 1903. S. G.SHEPARD.

SHOE LACE TIPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1903.

a a PHOTO-LINK).VVASHYNGTDND cv No. 735,040. PATENTED JULY 28, 1903. S.G. SHEPARD.

SHOE LACE TIPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR, 1 1903- N0 MODEL. 6 SHEETSSHEET 5.

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wii iqg PATENTED JULY 28, 1903.

8.0.SHEPARD. SHOE LACE TIPPING'MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1903.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6- HO-MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented .l'uly 28, 1903.

PATENT QFFICE.

SYLVANDER C. SHEPARD, OF HANNIBAL, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO H. K.

LOGAN, GEORGE L. BENSON, AND JOHN LOGAN, OF HANNIBAL, MIS- SOURI.

SHOE-LACE-TIPPING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 735,040, dated July 28,1903.

Application filed April 10, 1903.

metallic tips to shoe and corset lacings, and

has for its principal object to provide an automatic machine for formingthe metal tips from a suitable strip and applying the same at properintervals to a lacing which is subsequently severed in any suitablemanner at a point midway of the length of the tip member, the latterbeing of sufficient length to form two tips at the ends of two lacings.

A further object of the invention is to construct a machine in which tipmembers may be formed from a ribbon of metal which may be fed to themachine without previous treatment and provided during the operation ofthe machine with teeth or serrations in order to more firmly bind it inposition on the lacing.

W'ith these and other objects in view the invention consists in thenovel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described,illustrated in' the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed outin the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in theform, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be madewithout departing from the spirit or sacificing any of the advantages ofthe invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of alace-tipping machine constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig.2 is a similar View looking from the opposite side of the machine. Fig.3 is a plan view of the machine. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectionalelevation of the same, on an enlarged scale, on the line at 4 of Fig. 3.Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional elevation on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a portion of the machineon the line 6 b of Fig. 5, illustrating the arrangement of the gearingconnections for Serial No. 152,072. (No model.)

the feeding-rolls. Fig.7 is a transverse sectional elevation of aportion of the mechanism on the line 7 7 of Fig. 4. Fig. Sis a-detailperspective View of one of the die members. Fig. 9 is a detail sectionalview on the line 9 9 of Fig. 4, illustrating the construction of thestrip-shifting rollers. Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional elevation of aportion of the machine on the line 10 10 of Fig. 3. Fig. 11 is a detailperspective view of the cut-- ter-carrying shaft. Fig. l2.is a similarview of the cutter detached. Fig. 13 is a detail perspective view of theclutch-shifting n1ech anism. Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a portionof the strip after the action of the serrating-dies. Fig. 15 illustratesthe several steps in the operation of the forming-die during the coilingof the strip around the lace.

Similarnu merals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In the manufacture of laces for shoes, corsets, and the like it is usualto apply metallic tips to the ends of the laces in order to properlystiffen the same and permit the ready introduction of the lace throughthe eyelets or other cooperative lacing devices, and in the presentmachine it is proposed to supply these tips from a ribbon of thin metal,which is first serrated at one edge and then severed into lengths ofsufficient size to form two tips, and this metal plate is subsequentlyacted upon by a die and rolled around a lacing in such manner that whenthe lacing and tip are severed a lace will be formed having astiffening-tip at each end.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a suitable base carrying a frame2 of suitable size and shape for the support of the various operatingmembers. The frame is provided with bearings for the reception of atransversely-extending shaft 3, to which is secured a belt-wheel 4 and asprocket-wheel 5, the belt-wheel being driven from any suitable sourceof power and serving to communicate motion to the remaining portion ofthe machine. The frame is further provided with bearings for thereceptionof a second transverse shaft 6, carrying a somewhat smallersprocket-wheel 7, which is connected with the main sprocket-wheel 5. Thesprocket-wheel 7 is mounted loosely on the shaft, and the hub of saidsprocket-wheel is provided with clutch teeth adapted to be engaged by aclutch member 9, feathered to the shaft and movable longitudinallythereof, said clutch member being provided with an annular groove forthe reception of a bifurcated end of a clutch-operating arm 10, which issecured to a rock-shaft 11, mounted in a bearing on the main frame. Tothat end of the shaft 11 opposite the arm 10 is secured a rocker-arm 12,projecting into the path of movement of a cam 13 on the sprocket-wheel 5and so arranged that at each revolution the cam will come intoengagement with the rocker-arm and shift the clutch member in suchmanner as to temporarily release the sprocket-wheel from the shaft 6 andstop the rotative movement of the latter. The rock-shaft is furtherprovided with an arm 14, connected by a helical spring 16 to a fixedportion of the frame, the spring tending normally to force the clutchmember into engagement with the sprocket-wheel and serving to reclutchthe latter to the shaft after the passage of the cam 13.

The shaft 6 carries a grooved lace-feeding wheel 17, against which thelace is held by a pair of idler-rolls 18, mounted on cranks carried bythe frame and serving to maintain the lace in frictional engagement withthe feeding-reel 17, so that. as the latter is rotated the lace will bedrawn from the machine after the tipping operation has been completedand the feeding movement stopping temporarily at the end of each singlerevolution of the feeding-wheel in order to hold the lace stationaryduring the application of the tip. In this connection it may be observedthat the diameter of the feed-wheel is proportioned to the length oflace desired,

and the circumference of the wheel determines the length of said lace.

The lace is wound on a spool or reel 20, mounted at the top of astandard 21, and is guided around a small pin or roller through aforming-die,where the tip is applied in the manner hereinafterdescribed.

At one side of the frame of the machine are two spaced plates 23 and 24,and in said plates and the frame member at the opposite side of themachine are formed bearings for the reception of a plurality of shafts26, 27, 28, and 29, the shafts 26 and 27 being provided withstrip-feeding rollers 30 and 31, respectively, while the shafts 2S and29 carry, respectively, the combined feeding-strip-shaping rollers 32and 33. The feed rollers are thus divided into two sets, and each of theshafts carrying such rollers is provided with a gear-wheel, as 34, thesegears intermeshing in order to rotate all of the. rollers at a uniformspeed. Ata point below the lowermost feeding-rollers the frame isprovided with bearings for a shaft 35, having a gear-wheel 36, whichintermeshes with the gear-wheels 34 of the lower sets of feed-rollersand rotates the latter at a uniform speed.

The rotative movement of the strip-feeding rolls is accomplished fromthe main shaft 3 through the medium of the mutilated gear 37, whichintermeshes with the gear-wheel 36 and rotates the latter at intervalsto an extent sufficient to feed the strip of metal for a distance equalto the length of two finished tips, the interval between feedingoperations allowing sufficient time to form the severed length into atip and apply the same to the lace.

' At apoint between the two sets of feedrolls the frame is provided witha die 40, having a serrated cutting-surface 41, over which the strippasses, the edge of the strip being in alinement with the points of theteeth of said die and the length of the die being preferably equal tothe length of two finished tips.

The outer plate 24 of the frame is provided with bearings 45 and 46 forthe reception of a cutter-shaft 47, one side of which is recessed andcarries a serrated cutting-die 48, which coacts with the similar diebetween the plates once during each revolution of the shaft 47 and formsindentations orserrations in the edge of the strip previous to theoperation of cutting and forming said strip into tips. At one end of theshaft 47 is a mitergear 49, intermeshing with a similar gear 50 on ashaft 51, which extends through suitable beariugs in the frame of themachine and is provided with a pinion 52, intermeshing with a pinion 53on the main shaft 3, the gearing being so proportioned as to revolve thecutter-shaft once during a single revolution of the remaining revolublemembers, so that the strip of metal will be acted upon to form tipsarranged in a continuous series for a length equal to the combinedlength of finished tips.

The combined feeding and flanging rollers 32 and 33, which have beenpreviously referred to, are so arranged and disposed as to turn upwardthe toothed edge of the strip to form a flange at a right angle to themain body of the strip, and for this purpose the lower of the rolls 33is provided with a peripheral flange or rib 54 of a diameter greaterthan the diameter of the main body of the roller. This operation iseffected preliminary to severing the strip in the length and the bendingof such lengths around the lace.

At the end of the two plates 23 and 24 is a block 60, having a recessforming a guide for a vertically-movable knife 61, which is held inplace by the heads of a plurality of screws 62, which are adapted tothreaded openings in the plate, the cutting edge of the plate be ing atthe lower edge of the knife and coacting with a stationary cutter andarranged in the plane immediately below the strip. On the cutting-knifeis a stud carrying an antifriction-roller 63, with which engages one endof a lever 64:, fulcrumed at an intermediate point on a stud 65, carriedby the block 60, the opposite end of said lever being engaged by a cam66, projecting radially from the shaft 47, so that at the rotation ofthe shaft 47 the cutting-knife is depressed to sever a plate ofsufficient length to form two finished tips. Immediately in advance ofthe cutting-knife is a guiding bar or roller (37, under which the lacingis passed, being fed forward immediately over the severed plate andpassing with said plate into a two-part die formed of upper and lowerdie-plates and 71. The lower die-plate 71 is stationary, while the upperplate is provided with horizontally-disposed slots 72, extendingtransversely of the machine and through which pass headed pins 73 intothe lower stationary plate. The two die-plates are each provided withoppositelyfacing curved shoulders 74, forming an elongated opening intowhich the severed plate and the lacing are fed. Normally the die is heldopen by means of a spring 75, extending between the upper die-plate andthe boss or stud 76, and the end of said upper dieplate projects intothe path of travel of a cam 77, arranged on the inner face of thesprocket-wheel 5, so that at each rotation of the sprocket-wheel the camacts to force the die 70 to closed position and wrap or coil the platearound the lacing.

In the operation of the machine the lacing is directed from one of thespools or reels under the guidingpin or roller and thence out over thefeeding-reel 17. The strip is engaged by the feeding-rollers 30 and 31.As the main driving-shaft is rotated the lacing is fed forward at eachoperation for a distance equal to the desired length of the lace, thefeeding movement ceasing for an interval at the end of each rotation ofthe main sprocket-wheel, the cam 13 on the sprocketwheel causing thedisengagement of said wheel from the shaft 6. During the feedingmovement of the lacing the ribbon of metal has been fed for a distanceequal to the length of a pair of finished tips and the outer horizontalshaft 47 has been rotated once in order to serrate one edge of theribbon or strip. The strip is then flanged by means of the rollers 32and 33 and is fed forward into the open die, being passed under thelace. At the completion of the rotative movement of the shaft 47 the cam66 depresses the cutting-knife through the medium of the lever 64 andsevere the projected end of the ribbon or strip. The severed plate lyingwithin the die has the upturned edge previously described, and as theupper die member 17 is moved by a cam 77 the serrated edge of the platewill be gradually rolled around the lace and firmly compressed to anextent sufficieut to bind it firmly on the lace. The operative movementof the die takes place between the intervals of feeding, so that thelace is stationary during this operation. At

the completion of the die-forming operation the feeding-wheel 17 isagain revolved and the lace fed out to an extent equal to the length ofa lace, when the same operation is again accomplished and another tipmember applied. The resultant product is a continuous lace having atip-plate coiled around it at intervals, and this product is carried toa second machine and the tip and lace are severed at a point midwaybetween the two ends of the tip-plate, the length of the latter beingsufficient, as previously described, to form two finished tips.

It is obvious that the device may be employed for the application oftips to lacings of any character and that the'length of the laces may bealtered to any desired extent by suitable increase or decrease in thesize of the feed-wheel17, and at the same time the length of the tip maybe altered by properly proportioning the cutting-gearing for thepurpose.

As a precautionary measure the die 70 is provided with an extended arm70, passing around-one edge of the main sprocket-wheel in the path ofmovement of the main cam 13, so that in case of accidental jamming ofthe metal strip and the die or failure of the spring the upper die willbe drawn to open position.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In alace-tip-applying machine, the combination with means for feeding thelace and means for feeding the tip-forming strip, of means forset-rating the edge of the strip, means for fianging said serrated edge,means for severing the strip into tip lengths, and a forming-die forcoiling said tip lengths around the lace.

2. In a lace-tip-applying machine, the combination with anintermittently-operated lacefeeding means, of an intermittently-operatedmeans for feeding tip-forming strips, means for serrating the edge ofthe strip, means for fianging the serrated edge, means for cutting thestrip into lengths, and a forming-die for coiling the flanged lengthsaround the lace.

3. In a lace-tip-applying machine, the combination with anintermittently-operated lace- .feeding means, of anintermittently-operated means for feeding the tip-forming strip, a stationary cutting-die, a revoluble cutting-die coacting therewith andadapted to form teeth or serrations in the edge of the strip, anintermittently-operated severing-knife for cutting the strip into thelengths, and a die receiving the lace and the severed lengths, said dieserving to coil the lengths around the strip.

4:. In a lace-tip-applying machine, the combination with strip-feedingmeans, of means for feeding the tip-forming strip, a strip-flangingroller forming-one of the strip-feeding elements, cutting-dies for theformation of teeth or serrations in the edge of the strip, astrip-severing means, and an intermittentlyoperated forming-die forcoiling the severed lengths of material around the lace.

5. In a lace-tip-applying machine, the combination with a frame, of amain shaft, a sprocket wheel thereon, a second shaft, a sprocket-wheelmounted thereon, a link belt connecting the two sprocket-wheels, aclutching mechanism for locking the second sprocket-wheel, alace-feeding Wheel secured to the second shaft, means for holding thelace in engagement with said feeding-wheel, an intermittently-operatedmeans for feeding the tip-forming strip, a pair of cutter-dies for theformation of teeth or serrations in the edge of the strip, a fiangingdevice for upturning the serrated edge of the strip, means for cuttingthe flanged strip into lengths, and a forming-die for coiling thelengths around the lace.

6. In a lace-tip-applying machine, the combination with a main shaft, ofa sprocketwheel carried thereby, a second shaft, a sprocket-wheelmounted thereon, a link belt connecting the two sprocket-Wheels, aclutching mechanism connecting the second sprocket-wheel to its shaft, acam carried by the main sprocket-wheel and controlling the movement ofthe clutch-operating mechanism, a lace-feeding wheel carried by the second shaft, means for holding the lace in engagement with saidfeeding-wheel, means for feeding the tip-forming strip,connectinggearing between the main shaft and said feeding means, astationary serrated die, a revoluble shaft receiving motion from themain driving-shaft, a serrated die carried by the shaft andcommunicating with the stationary die to form teeth or serrations in theedge of the strip, a forming-roller forming an element of thestrip-feeding means and serving to flange the serrated edge of thestrip, means for severing the strip into lengths, a formingdie forcoiling the lengths around the lace, and a cam carried by the mainsprocket-wheel and actuating the movable member of said forming-die.

7. The combination with a frame, ofa main shaft, a sprocket-wheelmounted thereon, a second shaft, a sprocket-Wheel loosely mounted on thesecond shaft, a clutching mechanism for locking the secondsprocket-wheel to its shaft, a rock-shaft, a rocker-arm carried therebyand connected to the clutch mechanism, a second rocker-arm on saidshaft, a cam carried by the main sprocket-Wheel and serving to engagesaid second rocker-arm, alacefeeding wheel carried by the second shaft,a pair of friction-rollers for holding the lace in engagement with thefeeding-wheel, a pair of sets of rolls for feeding the tip-formingstrip, one of the sets of rolls serving to flange the strip, astationary serrated cuttingdie, a shaft adapted to bearings in the frameand extending at an angle to the main shaft, gearing connecting saidshaft to the main shaft, 2; serrated cutting-die carried by said shaftand cooperating with the stationary cutting-die, means for severing thestrip into lengths, and a forming-die for coiling the lengths around thelace.

8. In a lace-tip-applying machine, the combination with lace-feedingmeans, of means for feeding the tip-forming strip, a stationary serrateddie, a revoluble die-shaft, a die carried thereby and cooperating withthe stationary die to form teeth or serrations in the edge of the strip,a strip-severing knife, an antifriction-roller carried thereby, a camcarried by the die-shaft, a lever pivoted to the frame and having oneend engaging the antifriction-roller and its opposite end being disposedin the path of movement of the 0am to thereby efiect the operation ofthe knife, and a forming-die for coiling the severed lengths around thelace.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SYLVANDER O. SHEPARD.

\Vitnesses: v

E. M. NORTON, E. H. PRICE.

